From the Archives: Residents gather to witness history

"Party at the White House!" William Scott Davis Jr. exclaimed as he watched the inauguration on a TV in the children's room of the Hampton Public Library.

"Party in America!" enthusiastically responded Belinda Powell, who was dressed in a hot pink sweater and among those clapping or nodding in agreement as Obama spoke.

About 30 people gathered at the library to view the inaugural ceremony, from women with their toddlers to senior citizen couples.They watched solemnly as the events began unfolding, leaning forward in their chairs as Obama was introduced, bowing their heads at the invocation preceding his speech.

Davis, a 47-year-old IT contractor, said he watched the event at the library so he could share the experience with other people. He hoped for a more boisterous crowd.

"It's a very historic moment for people, especially those who have endured some of the most jaded times of society," he said. "I hope this is a sign of new things to come."

Powell called Tuesday the beginning of a new era, saying Obama's presidency makes her believe for the first time that change can truly be accomplished.

"He's for everyone, not just one person," she said. "That's different for me."

Socorro Zebal was supposed to be in Washington with her husband and sons, but decided Monday that it was just too cold. They went ahead, while she stayed behind to watch the historic inauguration along with other James City County Democrats at the Corner Pocket restaurant in New Town.

One son has been in Washington for the last four days with his girlfriend from the College of William and Mary. Zebal's husband and other son left Monday morning.

Zebal, who works at a Williamsburg-area bank, said she had been sending them text messages, but hadn't heard back.

Zebal, an immigrant from Mexico, has lived in the United States since 1996, but did not become a citizen until 2006, at the behest of her sons, who wanted her to be able to vote in the 2008 election.

Her vote? For Obama.

"It's very exciting because the U.S. needs a good leader who can bring the economy back. And I'm glad to have family there. They can at least tell me about it," she said just before the ceremony began.

Williamsburg resident Dawn Waller wanted to make sure her two children remembered the moment, so she brought Erin, 11, and Patrick, 14, to watch the ceremony at Kimball Theatre, where about 140 people gathered. Admission was free.

Flanked by the spotlighted flags of the United States and Virginia, a larger-than-life Obama spoke to the lively crowd of Williamsburg-area residents, who gave him a standing ovation at the end of his inaugural speech. An audible "goodbye" could be heard spreading through the crowd as the camera panned to former President George W. Bush.

Waller said having her children see Obama's inauguration on the big screen would make the event more memorable for them.

Despite bone-chilling cold on Duke of Gloucester Street, Waller came away from Obama's speech with a "warm feeling."

"I have a feeling of unity with everyone," she said once the ceremony ended. "It feels like the beginning of a better time. We came out here because I wanted for us to share this with other people."

'MOMENTOUS OCCASION' CHANCE TO TEACH, LEARN

Poquoson students were well-tuned-in to the inauguration activities.

While most local schools were closed because of the threat of snow, those in Poquoson, York County and Williamsburg-James City County were in session.

"Our teachers and students are celebrating this momentous occasion in a variety of ways," said Poquoson schools Superintendent Jennifer Parish.

The inauguration was broadcast in each school. Several government and history teachers wove it into their lessons on the political process, Parish said.

Primary school teachers stopped instruction so students could watch the swearing-in.

"The elementary school is broadcasting across the network using our new projectors," Parish said. "At our middle school, our Spanish teachers were using this as an opportunity to teach the language and connect it to current events."

A few residents gathered to watch the festivities on a big screen at the Poquoson library, where staff proffered hot cider to take the chill off.

'I CAN TELL MY SON THAT HE ... CAN DO ANYTHING'

At the Williamsburg Library, Michelle Green couldn't hold her emotions in check. Tears streamed down her cheeks as footage of Obama, his wife and daughters flashed across the large projection screen in the library's theater.

"I've been crying all week," Green, 55, said as she wiped her face with a tissue. "All of us working together all these years has helped make this happen."

It's been an emotional couple days for Green, who along with a friend drove more than 560 miles to Williamsburg to be close to Washington on Inauguration Day.

The two stayed in a Williamsburg hotel and planned to go to Washington after the inauguration.

"I was little when Dr. King did his 'I Have a Dream' speech, but now I'm old enough to understand the historic impact of what's taking place," Green said.

Nearly 100 people of all races, ages and backgrounds filled the seats in the library's theater to witness history unfold as the country's first black president took office.

People cheered, laughed and some even cried tears of joy as Obama took the oath of office and later addressed the nation in his first speech as president. Others waved goodbye to the screen as Bush departed.

Lisa Blackford, lead teacher of the upper elementary school at Williamsburg Montessori School, brought fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders to watch the event.

"We've been studying this in school, and I wanted students to see the peaceful transition of us moving from one president to another," Blackford said. "They're just the right age to understand what's taking place."

During the event, one of Blackford's students said seeing Obama get sworn into office "felt like Happy New Year all over again."

Mausan Brooks and her mother said they never thought they would live to see a black man become president.

"It's special that now I can tell my son that he can really can do anything," said Brooks, a black woman from Yorktown who brought her 3-year-old son to watch the event.

Pat Morton, who came to the library to witness history with the others, said she was excited about the history that took place.

"I don't think we've ever seen anything like this before," said Morton, a Williamsburg resident. "It's so exciting."

There was applause at the noon hour when the announcement was made that Obama was now officially president, though he hadn't taken the oath of office and a musical performance was still in progress on the big screen.

Many rose when Obama actually took the oath, and there was thunderous applause with hoots of joy at the conclusion of his speech.

Charlene Clark, a 24-year-old student who lives in Newport News, watched with the group. She said the crowd was what she had expected.

"I thought the speech was great," Clark said on her way out. "I think a lot of people are already behind him. There's a lot of support."

Student Terrence Thompson munched on the sweets and punch handed out in the lobby after the speech.

"It was exciting," said Thompson, a 19-year-old who lives in Hampton. "This change is an exciting thing to see. It makes me hopeful, I believe it will (improve) and I'm excited about that."

Deborah Wright, TNCC's vice president for work force development, enjoyed the togetherness.

"I loved it," Wright said. "I know a lot of Thomas Nelson people took a day of vacation today to go to Washington, and I know that there were a lot who went to their churches and took time to be there.

"But the Thomas Nelson family that was here all gathered together. And that was just wonderful."